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Oath Keepers: Patriotism and the Edge of Violence in a Right-Wing Antigovernment Group
Since 2008, the American patriot/militia movement--right-wing antigovernment groups who portray themselves as fighting encroaching tyranny--has grown exponentially. Oath Keepers is among the most visible and vocal of these organizations. Formed in 2009, Oath Keepers gained notoriety for its involvement in the Bundy Ranch standoff of 2014 and the Malheur Refuge occupation of 2016. The group gives voice to a recurrent form of American politics: virulent distrust of the government combined with a valorization of violence.
Sam Jackson takes readers inside the world of the most prominent antigovernment group in the United States, examining its extensive online presence to discover how it builds support for its political goals and actions. Through an extensive textual analysis of the group's publications, Jackson explores how Oath Keepers draws on core American political values and pivotal historical moments of conflict and crisis from the Revolutionary War to Waco to Hurricane Katrina to cast its adherents as defenders of liberty. He details how Oath Keepers makes sense of the contemporary United States, how it provides members with models of political behavior, and how it lobbies the wider American public to join the group. The first book-length investigation of the contemporary patriot/militia movement, Oath Keepers sheds new light on what animates groups that pose a growing threat to American security and political culture.
Sam Jackson takes readers inside the world of the most prominent antigovernment group in the United States, examining its extensive online presence to discover how it builds support for its political goals and actions. Through an extensive textual analysis of the group's publications, Jackson explores how Oath Keepers draws on core American political values and pivotal historical moments of conflict and crisis from the Revolutionary War to Waco to Hurricane Katrina to cast its adherents as defenders of liberty. He details how Oath Keepers makes sense of the contemporary United States, how it provides members with models of political behavior, and how it lobbies the wider American public to join the group. The first book-length investigation of the contemporary patriot/militia movement, Oath Keepers sheds new light on what animates groups that pose a growing threat to American security and political culture.
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 23, 2021
A good academic treatment of the Alt right movement in America. I can see how the author wrote the classic textbook to be used as a framework to understand this in the future. I liked the way the author explains why the movement works and way its drive for violent revolt is dangerous to the general public. A classic the day it was written.
August 29, 2025
This book suffers from a couple things, partially unavoidable.
One on hand the argument is very familiar if you have read other books on Far Right extremism or paid attention to the rhetoric from these quarters. Even if you do not know or recall all the specific engagements of the Oath Keepers, much of the discussion of strategical framing will ring familiar.
The book is most focused on the period before Trump took office in 2016. There is some discussion of the pivot that the Oath Keepers made when Trump took office, but that needed and deserved much greater comparison and discussion.
The unavoidable weakness is that the book came out in 2020, so there is no discussion of the role this group played in January 6th — the attempted coup that broke a 220 history of power transferring peacefully after an election.
The author does point to several hypocrisies and contradictions in the group’s thinking, rhetoric, and actions—but none looms larger than their role in January 6th—trying to overturn the results of a free and fair election. And where is there defense of liberty against government overreach in 2025? They, as far as I can tell, are supporting the slide in authoritarianism as the Constitution is attacked.
All of this needs to be addressed in a new edition if this book is to continue to have relevance.
One on hand the argument is very familiar if you have read other books on Far Right extremism or paid attention to the rhetoric from these quarters. Even if you do not know or recall all the specific engagements of the Oath Keepers, much of the discussion of strategical framing will ring familiar.
The book is most focused on the period before Trump took office in 2016. There is some discussion of the pivot that the Oath Keepers made when Trump took office, but that needed and deserved much greater comparison and discussion.
The unavoidable weakness is that the book came out in 2020, so there is no discussion of the role this group played in January 6th — the attempted coup that broke a 220 history of power transferring peacefully after an election.
The author does point to several hypocrisies and contradictions in the group’s thinking, rhetoric, and actions—but none looms larger than their role in January 6th—trying to overturn the results of a free and fair election. And where is there defense of liberty against government overreach in 2025? They, as far as I can tell, are supporting the slide in authoritarianism as the Constitution is attacked.
All of this needs to be addressed in a new edition if this book is to continue to have relevance.
June 6, 2024
Very insightful book into the inner workings of a now-defunct right-wing militia group. In detail it outlines how a group like the Oath-Keepers formed, coupled with the rise in the Patriot Movement following the election of Barack Obama. *It is also important to mention when reading this book that the former leader of the Oath keepers, Steward Elmar Rhodes is currently serving a lengthy sentence in federal prison for his involvement in the events of January 6th.*
August 8, 2022
An interesting book about the Oath Keepers. The book goes over its formation and what the Oath Keepers believe in. They do have principles that they believe in, even though many will not agree how they interpret the US Constitution.
the book also includes an appendix that includes the 10 oaths that Oath Keeper make. The Oaths cover what the members will not do.
the book also includes an appendix that includes the 10 oaths that Oath Keeper make. The Oaths cover what the members will not do.
April 10, 2021
Competent overview.
February 7, 2022
A relevant book, especially after Jan 6th.
May 27, 2023
for thesis research lolz
June 22, 2021
When Trump was elected, the Oath Keepers —a far-right anti-government group— suddenly had the man they overwhelmingly supported in the White House. Their new enemy became those that opposed the President (“antifa,” the gun-control movement, etc.) and showed up at racial justice protests claiming to protect business. The rest of the world probably heard of the Oath Keepers after at least a dozen of their members entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, moving as if in military formation.
Sam Jackson analyses how the Oath Keepers perceive and present themselves, solely using their own digital output. Whether it’s the 1993 Waco siege or Hurricane Katrina, the group sees plenty of examples that a governmental threat to its citizens is very real — and therefore citizens should be ready to fight against their own military. Key to understanding the large support for the Oath Keepers is what Jackson calls “strategic ambiguity:” being rather vague when talking about concepts like “natural rights” being taken away.
Spanning the time from the group’s founding in 2009 the start of the Trump’s presidency begins (an obvious inflection point for an anti-government group), the book is probably (albeit sometimes repetitive) the best rough-and-ready guide to the Oath Keepers’ rhetorical strategies, strategic ambiguity and operational history before they made world news.
Sam Jackson analyses how the Oath Keepers perceive and present themselves, solely using their own digital output. Whether it’s the 1993 Waco siege or Hurricane Katrina, the group sees plenty of examples that a governmental threat to its citizens is very real — and therefore citizens should be ready to fight against their own military. Key to understanding the large support for the Oath Keepers is what Jackson calls “strategic ambiguity:” being rather vague when talking about concepts like “natural rights” being taken away.
Spanning the time from the group’s founding in 2009 the start of the Trump’s presidency begins (an obvious inflection point for an anti-government group), the book is probably (albeit sometimes repetitive) the best rough-and-ready guide to the Oath Keepers’ rhetorical strategies, strategic ambiguity and operational history before they made world news.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews